Weenie Wagon regulars regroup at new location

Published 10:45 pm, Friday, May 3, 2013

Carolyn Schumacher makes a couple of long dogs with sauerkraut during the opening day of Carolyn's Weenie Wagon at her new location in the parking lot of the Whittemore Ice Cream Shop on South Main Street in Seymour, Conn. on Tuesday, April 30, 2013.

Carolyn Schumacher makes a couple of long dogs with sauerkraut during the opening day of Carolyn's Weenie Wagon at her new location in the parking lot of the Whittemore Ice Cream Shop on South Main Street in

SEYMOUR -- Its home might best be described as retro chic and the food might not be gourmet, but for regular customers at Carolyn's Weenie Wagon, the sound of hot dogs sizzling on the grill was music to their ears.

Owned by Carolyn Schumacher, the Weenie Wagon has reopened for business at a new location -- in the parking lot of Whittemore Ice Cream at 114 South Main Street.

"I just stopped by to say hello and tell her how happy I am that she's back in business," said Helen Filo, of Derby.

Betty DeGeorge, of Beacon Falls, was there for her usual -- a hot dog and a soda.

"Everything here is not only good, it's made with love," she said. "Carolyn takes good care of us."

Filo and DeGeorge were among a half-dozen of Schumacher's regular clientele who gathered around a picnic table in the rear of the Weenie Wagon.

"We all missed her and are happy she's up and running again," Donna Carreiro said.

The regulars, who call themselves her "groupies," were worried that Schumacher might give up the business. That almost happened.

For many years, Schumacher ran the Weenie Wagon from the Housatonic Wire site on River Street, until a massive fire at the plant in September 2010 forced her to move next door to the former Seymour Lumber Co. property.

In January, the lumber company president said he was considering selling the property and Schumacher was given two months to find another location. She began looking for a spot, but wasn't getting any offers. She said she was getting anxious and was ready to throw in the towel when the Whittemore owners made her an offer she couldn't refuse.

"It's a good match," she said, since customers can buy a hot dog from her, then get an ice cream at Whittemore's.

Schumacher closed on April 20 and had the Weenie Wagon power-washed and painted before reopening. She also needed time to physically move the converted camper that houses her business to the South Main Street site.

"It was great all day," she said on Tuesday, as she handed a hot dog with the works to one customer. "Business has been good."

Most of her regular customers knew about the move. "They were able to sniff me out and find me here," she said.

All except one.

"He got concerned when he went to the old location and saw the Weenie Wagon was gone," she said. "He said he thought I was dead."